Enugu State government, yesterday, initiated a bold move to stop the one-week sit-at-home announced by the Simeon Ekpa-led Biafra agitators in the South East.

Ekpa had, last week, ordered a sit-at-home in the region, beginning Monday, July 3, as part of measures to pressure the Federal Government to release detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

IPOB has, however, dissociated itself from the order, urging people to go about their legitimate businesses, stressing that those behind the order are not members of the group.

Nevertheless, several schools and businesses in Enugu were shut, yesterday, while few vehicles plied roads, obviously, in compliance with the order.
Some schools had notified parents of their intention to comply with the order, and asked that the parents keep their children at home. Markets and offices were also closed.

Disturbed by the development, the state government announced its readiness to deal with institutions that comply with the order. A statement from the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said: “The attention of the Enugu State government has been drawn to reports on social media that proprietors of private schools in the state are sending messages to their pupils and students not to come to school on account of the illegal one-week sit-at-home, allegedly declared by faceless non-state actors.

“The state government is dismayed by this development and, hereby, warns that any school that fails to open and function normally, from today, would have its license revoked immediately.

“The state government also extends the same warning to market unions and shop owners in the state. All markets and shops must be open to customers, from today, or be shut down indefinitely.

“Government reiterates its ban on any form of illegal sit-at-home in all parts of the state, as it is evil and antithetical to all the values we hold dear as a people, such as the Igbo spirit of industry, hard work, creativity and productivity.

“The general public is urged to go about its normal daily activities, as adequate security measures have been put in place to protect life and property.”